Garment hanger



Oct. 31, 1939.

F. P. MIES 2,178,048

GARMENT HANGER Filed 001:. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 31, 1939. F. P. MIES ,178. 4

' GARMENT HANGER 4 Filed Oct. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented oct. 31, 1939 imireo sr r s PATENT OFFICE GARMENT HANGER Frank P. Mies, Chicago, Ill. Application October 23, 1937, Serial No. 170,689 7 Claims. (craze- 9s) This invention relates to a garment hanger and more particularly to a hanger with a device for fastening clothes in position thereon.

One feature of this invention is that garments are securely retained in position without danger of slipping or falling; another feature of this invention is that the fastening device does not interfere with the removal or replacement of garments; still another feature of this invention is that garments may be placed upon the hanger without removal from a wall rack; a further feature of this invention is that when the fastening device is removed from the garment it will remain in such position; yet another feature of this invention is that the fastening device remains in contact with the garment without movement thereon; yet another feature of this invention is that the contact holding the garment is of such a nature as to prevent tearing or even creasing thereof; other features and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the hanger with a garment in place thereon; Fig. 2 is a front elevationalview of the hanger with the arms in the elevated position, rotated out 'ofthe plane of the horizontal bar; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the hanger in the position of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view with the front half of the casing broken away; :Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View along the line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a modification of this invention; Fig. '7 is a front elevational View of the hanger of Fig. 6 with the arms inthe position of the hanger illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view partly in section of another modification of my invention; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View along the line 9 of Fig. 8.

Ordinary garment hangers frequently allow garments to slip or fall from the hanger, thereby causing great expense in cleaning, particularly to stores and storage houses. As a result, many devices have been developed to insure retention of garments in place on hangers. Many of these devices tend to damage the clothes, tearing or creasing them at the point of contact. Others are cumbersome in use. Still others, if placed. upon a wall rack must be removed before a garment can be placed upon them. This invention obviates these and other difficulties. The invention comprises two arms 'in yielding contactwith a garment carried by a horizontal bar, whereby the garment is held. on the bar, and means for permitting the independent; movement of said arms to and from such positionsof contact. Preferably, the arms are elevatedand rotated from the plane of the horizontal bar. On the bar are mounted means to retain the armsinsuch elevated position, and to permit. both arms to be swung to the same side of the bar so that there may be no interference with the placing of the garment on the hanger.

,In one embodiment of my invention disclosed herein a substantially horizontal bar [0, of the usual garment hanger type, carries a hook H, or other means of support, mounted thereon in any convenientmanner. Two arms 12 and i3 preferably .composed of metal or other resilient material, are coiled at one end around the shank M of said hook. The coils l5 and I6 are vertically slidable on,- and independently rotatable about said "shank. To the other ends of said arms are attached small buttons I1 and I8 of wood or any other suitable material, the bottom portions of which arepreferably curved to fit the top of the horizontal bar I0. To maintain said buttons in yielding contact with the bar It a spiral spring ,l9,=or other means should be placed in contact with the arms, preferably where said arms are coiled around .the shank of said hook, to urge them toward the. bar.

- Acasing 20 enclosesthe shank M of the hook, beingsecured thereto by a cap 2|. Movement of the casing is also prevented by a bottom cap 22.

Said casing serves to hold in place the spiral spring l9;-;and is provided with two vertical slots 23 and 24 in alignment with the horizontal bar llithrough which slots the arms l2 and is project. Said vertical slots extend from the base of the casing to the horizontal slots 25 and 25 and arepreferably. provided with outwardly extending flanges2'l and 28 to keep the arms in alignment withthehorizontal bar. Each of the horizontal slots 25 and 26 preferably extend at least one third of the circumference of the casing.

To place agarment on the hanger the arms 12 and I3 are raised in the Vertical slots until they reach the horizontal slots or transverse openings 25 and 26. At this point they may be rotated to eitherwside, but preferably both to the same side of theyhorizontal bar ID, as shown in Figure 3. The garment is then placed over the horizontal bar'lfl as shown in Fig. l, the arms are swung back into alignment with the vertical slots and the spring l9. urges their ends into yielding contact with the horizontal bar. Because the buttonsil and I8 are smooth and rounded to fit the bar no tearing or creasing will occur.

In another embodiment of my invention, shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, a horizontal bar 29 is supported by a hook 30 mounted thereon at a point intermediate to the ends and preferably in the center of the bar. The shank 3i of the said hook is enclosed in a casing 32 fastened to the hook by a cap 33. Said casing is maintained firmly in position on said hook by a bottom cap 34. Two arms 35 and 36 composed of a resilient substance, such as steel, are coiled at one end around the casing 32, the coils preferably being wound together. To the other ends of said arms are fastened buttons 31 and 38 of wood or other suitable material preferably curved on the bottom to fit the top of the bar 29.

In use the arms 35 and 36, being vertically slidable, are elevated on the casing 32 and then rotated independently to either side of the bar 29 as shown in Fig. '7 which corresponds to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the first embodiment. It is desirable to swing both arms to the same side of the bar in order that neither may interfere with the hanging of the garment. To put the arms in place it is necessary only to swing them back into the plane of the horizontal bar and lower them into contact therewith. The resilient arms thereafter maintain a yielding contact with the garment on the bar.

In another embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a casing 39 is mounted on a horizontal bar 40 by means of a hooked rod 4| and a rivet, bolt or similar fastening device 42. Said casing is provided with two vertical slots 43 and 44 extending from the base to the horizontal slots 45 and 46 and having outwardly flanged edges 41 and 48. Through said vertical slots are inserted two arms 49 and 50 which are bent downwardly at the ends and pivotally mounted in the block 5|. The block 5| may be made of metal or other suitable material and may have vertical holes drilled therein to receive said arms as shown. On the other hand, if so desired it may consist of two pieces fitted together with a space for said arms, or other suitable arrangement by which said arms may be horizontally rotatable in said block. Said block may be vertically slidable in the casing 39 as shown, or, if desired, the block may be fixed in position with the arms vertically slidable therein. The arms are pressed downward, preferably by a spiral spring 52 so that the other ends thereof yieldingly engage the horizon tal bar. The top of the casing 39 is provided with a heavy cap 53, to which is attached by a bolt or other means 54, a hook 55.

In this modification the arms are more stably mounted than in the first embodiment but because of simplicity and economy the first embodiment is usually to be preferred. The manner of operation of the third embodiment is similar to that of the first. The second embodiment on the other hand is simpler, cheap and generally considered more attractive than either of the others.

In all of the modifications of this invention the same basic principle of operation is present. Resilient arms are independently movable to and from a position of yielding contact with the horizontal bar or a garment carried thereby.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in View of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A garment hanger of the character described for yieldingly gripping a garment thereon, including: a horizontal bar adapted to carry said garment; a hook supporting said bar mounted thereon at a point intermediate to the ends thereof; a pair of arms slidably mounted on the shank of said hook, for vertical movement, said arms being independently rotatable about said hook in a horizontal plane, one end of each of said arms being adapted to yieldingly engage the garment on said bar for holding said garment thereon.

2. A garment hanger of the character described for yieldingly gripping a garment thereon, including: a horizontal bar adapted to carry said garment; supporting means for said bar mounted thereon; a pair of vertically movable arms mounted at one end on said means, said arms being independently rotatable about said means; locking means adapted to retain said arms in a position removed from said bar; means for forcing said arms into yielding contact with the garment on the horizontal bar when said arms are unlocked; and means adapted to retain said arms in the same vertical plane with the horizontal bar when in contact therewith.

3. A garment hanger of the character described for yieldingly gripping a garment thereon, including: a horizontal bar adapted to carry said garment; a hook for supporting said bar mounted thereon; a casing mounted on said bar enclosing the shank of said hook, said casing having near the base thereof outwardly flanged vertical slots on opposite sides thereof in alignment with the bar; a pair of arms, one end of each passing through one of said slots and being coiled around the shank of said hook; said arms being vertically slidable in said slots but maintained in alignment with the horizontal bar; a transverse opening communicating with the upper end of each of said slots and in said casing; adapted to permit independent horizontal rotation of said arms to lock them in an elevated position; and spring means adapted to urge said arms into yielding engagement with the garment on the horizontal bar when in alignment therewith.

4. A garment hanger of the character described for yieldingly gripping a garment thereon, including: a horizontal bar adapted to carry said garment; a hook for supporting said bar mounted thereon; a pair of vertically movable arms independently rotatable in a horizontal plane, one end of each of said arms being wound in the form of a coil, the coiled ends of said arms being supported about said hook and the other ends of said arms being adapted to yieldingly engage the garment on said bar.

5. A garment hanger of the character described for yieldingly gripping a garment thereon, including: a horizontal bar adapted to carry said garment; a hook for supporting said bar mounted thereon; a casing mounted on said bar enclosing the shank of said hook; a pair of arms vertically slidable on, and indepenetly rotatable about, said casing, one end of each of said arms being coiled around said casing, and the other end of each of said arms being adapted to yieldingly engage the garment on said bar for holding it thereon.

6. A garment hanger of the character described for yieldingly gripping a garment thereon, including: a horizontal bar adapted to carry said garment; a vertically slotted casing mounted on said bar; a pair of arms. adapted to yieldingly engage the garment, extending from the slots in said casing; means within said casing for pivotally mounting said arms, said arms being vertically slidable in said slots in alignment with said bar; locking means adapted to retain said arms in an elevated position while permitting horizontal rotation thereof; means urging said arms into yielding engagement with said bar when unlocked from elevated position; and a hook for supporting said bar.

7. A garment hanger of the character described for yieldingly gripping a garment thereon, including: a horizontal bar adapted to carry said garment; a vertically slotted casing mounted on said bar a pair of arms extending from said slots, being vertically slidable therein in alignment with said bar; means within said casing for mounting said arms; a transverse opening communicating with the upper end of each of said slots permitting horizontal rotation of said arms when in an elevated position; spring means urging the outer ends of said arms into yielding engagement with a garment on said bar when said arms are aligned therewith; and a hook mounted on said casing.

FRANK P. MIES. 

